Golf swing assistance apparatus

ABSTRACT

A golf swing assistance apparatus provides a golfer with a sound and a vibration, which a metal ball and an impact plate generate at both the top of a back swing and at a finish, during a golf swing, so that he/she can be informed of a period of time during which the swing is temporarily stopped at the top of the back swing to maintain his/her feeling for swing rhythm, prevent a head-up during a down swing, to the finish, and perform a golf swing with a good posture.

This application claims priority of pending Korean Utility Model Application No. 2004-5249 filed Feb. 27, 2004 and pending Korean. Patent Application No.2004-13875 filed Mar. 2, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf swing assistance apparatus, and more particularly to a golf swing assistance apparatus adapted to provide a golfer with a sound and a vibration, which a metal ball and an impact plate generate at the top of a back swing and at a finish, during a golf swing, so that the golfer can be informed of a period of time during which the swing is temporarily stopped at the top of the back swing to maintain the feeling for swing rhythm and prevent a head-up during a down swing, to the finish.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A golf swing can be divided into three periods of rhythm: ‘one’, a back swing action from an address posture; ‘two’, at the top of the back swing, at which the swing is temporarily stopped; and ‘three’, a down swing to a finish, at which the swing is instantly performed. Such a rhythm is indispensable for a good swing.

In particular: performing the back swing lightly, slowly, and with a constant speed; temporarily stopping at the top of the back swing; and fixing the golfer's head from the down swing to the finish to avoid a head-up (raising the head hastily to see the flying ball) are important factors which decide whether his/her shot is good or not. However, good swing is performed using much sense and is difficult to master even with much drilling and repeated exercise. It is even more difficult to constantly command a good swing in the field.

If a golfer can sense and be aware of the procedure from the top of the back swing, at which the swing is temporarily stopped, to the finish, he/she would easily maintain a constant swing posture and command a good shot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a golf swing assistance apparatus adapted to provide a golfer with a sound and a vibration, which a metal ball and an impact plate generate at the top of a back swing and at a finish, during a golf swing, the golfer can be informed of a period of time during which the swing is temporarily stopped at the top of the back swing to maintain the feeling for swing rhythm and prevent a head-up during a down swing, to the finish.

In order to accomplish this object, there is provided a golf swing assistance apparatus comprising: a guide member extending in a longitudinal direction; a hitting body installed at the guide member in such a manner that it can be moved in the gravitational direction according to the slope of the guide member; and an impact generation member positioned on an end of the guide member and adapted to generate a sound and a vibration when the hitting body is moved and hits the impact generation member.

The guide member may be a tubular body having a hole formed therein so that the hitting body is inserted and moved therein.

The guide member may be a wire which penetrates the hitting body so that the hitting body can be moved along the wire.

The hitting body and the impact generation member are preferably made of metallic material.

The hitting body preferably has the shape of a ball.

The guide member may be provided with, on the other end, an impact absorption member for absorbing a sound and a vibration, which are generated when the hitting body hits it.

The impact absorption member is preferably made of rubber, sponge, or plastic material or configured as a spring-like impact absorption structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, of a golf swing assistance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, of a golf swing assistance apparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the operations of a golf swing assistance apparatus, during a back swing and during a down swing, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and so repetition of the description on the same or similar components will be omitted.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, of a golf swing assistance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, a golf swing assistance apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical body 12, which has a hole 14 formed therein, and a metal ball 16, which is inserted in the hole 14 and has a predetermined size so that it can freely move therein. As the slope of the body 12 is changed, the metal ball 16 is moved, due to gravity, toward one of the opposite ends of the body 12. The opposite ends of the body 12 are blocked so that the metal ball 16 does not move out of the body 12. The opposite ends of the body 12 may be fabricated together with the body 12 during molding or may be blocked using separate caps.

One of the opposite ends of the body 12 is provided with an impact plate 18, which generates a sound and a vibration when hit by a metal ball, and the other end is provided with an impact absorption plate 20, which absorbs the sound and vibration generated when a metal ball 16 hits the impact absorption plate 20.

The impact plate 18 is made of the same metallic material as the metal ball 16. The impact absorption plate 20 is made of impact absorption material, such as rubber, sponge, and plastic, which can absorb sound and vibration. Alternatively, the impact absorption plate 20 is provided with a spring-like member, which can reduce the sound and vibration generated when the metal ball 16 hits it.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show a golf swing assistance apparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The contour of its body 12′ may be modified and the number of holes 14, which are formed in the body 12′, may also be modified accordingly. Metal balls 16 are inserted in the respective holes 14. One ends of the holes 14 are provided with impact plates 18 and the other ends are provided with impact absorption plates 20, respectively. As such, the configuration of the body 12′ may be modified and a plurality of holes 14 may be formed in the body 12′.

Operations of a golf swing assistance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as configured above, will now be described.

FIG. 3 shows the operations of a golf swing assistance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention during a back swing. In the drawing, (a) corresponds to a perspective view of the apparatus at a back swing and (b) corresponds to a perspective view at the top of the back swing.

In an initial address posture, the apparatus is worn on a wrist of the golfer, fastened on a golf glove or on the sleeve portion of the upper wear, or positioned in an internal space of the grip portion of a golf shaft, with the impact plate 18 facing upward. The metal ball 16 is positioned on the impact absorption plate 20, which faces downward.

As shown in FIG. 3, when a golfer performs a back swing (a) from an address posture, he/she performs it lightly, slowly, and with constant speed and posture change. Therefore, even when the metal ball 16 is moved and positioned on a reverse slope surface, it maintains its initial position due to the centrifugal force. At the top of the back swing, at which the swing is stopped for a very short period of time, the metal ball 16 drops on the impact plate 18, due to its own weight and gravity, and generates a sound and a vibration. Then, the golfer senses the sound and the vibration. Now, he/she can proceed to the down swing.

In other words, using a golf swing assistance apparatus of the present invention, a golfer can perform a back swing (a) light, slowly, and with a constant speed. He/she can be informed of a period of time during which the swing is temporarily stopped at the top of the back swing and then proceed to the down swing. As such, he/she can maintain the swing speed and the feeling of swing rhythm, in the course of address; back swing (a); top of the back swing (b); and down swing.

FIG. 4 shows the operations of a golf swing assistance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention during a down swing. In the drawing, (c) corresponds to a perspective view of the apparatus right after a down swing is performed and (b) corresponds to a perspective view at a finish posture.

As shown in FIG. 4, the metal ball 16 is moved to the impact absorption plate 20 right after a down swing is performed (c). Even when the metal ball 16 is moved and positioned on a reverse slope surface, it maintains its initial position until the finish, at which the swing is ended, due to the centrifugal force. At the finish (d), when the swing is stopped, the metal ball 16 drops on the impact plate 18 due to its own weight and gravity and generates a sound and a vibration. Then, the golfer senses the sound and the vibration. Now, he/she can turn his/her head to see the flying ball. This prevents a head-up.

As shown in FIG. 5, a golf swing assistance apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a wire 22; a metal ball penetrated by the wire 22; an impact plate 18 positioned on an end of the wire 22; and an impact absorption plate 20 positioned on the other end of the wire 22. Reference numeral 24 refers to a housing, which surrounds the golf swing assistance apparatus and defines a space so that the metal ball 16 is guided by the wire 22 and moved along is without any interference with alien objects.

In the golf swing assistance apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, as configured above, the metal ball 16 is guided by the wire 22 according to its slope and is moved in the direction of gravity. Then, the metal ball 16 hits the impact plate 18 and generates a sound and a vibration. Operations of the golf swing assistance apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention are the same as in the above embodiment and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The golf swing assistance apparatus according to the present invention may be fabricated so that it is connected to a wrist watch, a wrist protector, or a wristlet. As such, the apparatus may be worn on a wrist of a golfer, fastened on a golf glove or on the sleeve portion of upper wear, or positioned in an internal space of the grip portion of a golf shaft.

As mentioned above, the golf swing assistance apparatus according to the present invention is advantageous in that it provides a user with a sound and a vibration, which a metal ball 16 and an impact plate 18 generate at the top of a back swing (b), during a golf swing, so that he/she can be informed of a period of time during which the swing is temporarily stopped at the top of the back swing (b) to maintain his/her feeling for swing rhythm. He/she can also prevent a head-up by fixing his/her head until a sound and a vibration are generated when the metal ball 16 hits the impact plate 18 at a finish, when the swing is stopped (d).

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A golf swing assistance apparatus comprising: a guide member extending in a longitudinal direction; a hitting body installed at the guide member in such a manner that it can be moved in the gravitational direction according to the slope of the guide member; and an impact generation member positioned on an end of the guide member and adapted to generate a sound and a vibration when the hitting body is moved and hits the impact generation member, wherein the hitting body is adapted to hit the impact generation member at both a top of a back swing (b) and at a finish (d) of stopped motion and to generate a sound and a vibration, which assist in maintaining the feel for rhythm and in adjusting a swing posture.
 2. A golf swing assistance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide member has a tubular body having a hole formed therein so that the hitting body is inserted and can move therein.
 3. A golf swing assistance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide member is a wire which penetrates the hitting body so that the hitting body can be moved along the wire.
 4. A golf swing assistance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hitting body and the impact generation member are made of metallic material.
 5. A golf swing assistance apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hitting body has the shape of a ball.
 6. A golf swing assistance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide member is provided with, on the other end, an impact absorption member for absorbing a sound and a vibration, which are generated when the hitting body hits it.
 7. A golf swing assistance apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the impact absorption member is made of rubber, sponge, or plastic material or configured as a spring-like impact absorption structure. 